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High-quality fresh Crimson seedless grapes were used as test material to investigate the effects of a single girdling and a delayed girdling intervention compared to conventional cultivation practices. The experiments were done from July 28 to September 17, with sampling every 10 days-totaling six collections. Parameters such as berry weight, berry diameter, fruit shape index, color difference for external indicators, and soluble solids, titratable acidity, vitamin C, as well as sugar-acid ratio for internal quality indicators were measured. The aim was to provide a theoretical basis for the application of early ripening and quality improvement cultivation techniques for Crimson seedless grapes in the Xinjiang production region. Results indicated that delayed girdling did not significantly affect the grape fruit shape index, whereas a single girdling treatment significantly increased the weight per berry without affecting the berry weight with delayed girdling. Both treatments significantly enhanced the accumulation of soluble solids and improved the sugar-acid ratio, facilitating fruit maturation. There were significant differences in sugar-acid composition and content ratios among the treatments, with glucose and fructose contents being the highest in the initial girdling treatment. The single girdling significantly increased sugar content. Delayed girdling showed a marked trend in accelerating the decline of tartaric, malic, and citric acid contents, while single girdling reduced the oxalic acid content. Both girdling treatments significantly increased the Vc content of Crimson grapes, verifying that delayed girdling markedly enhances the Vc content. In terms of girdling treatments at different stages, delayed girdling noticeably improved the coloring of Crimson grapes, increased brightness, and promoted red coloration in the fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the perspective of small and medium-sized innovative biomedical enterprises, this study conducts a comprehensive analysis of the corporate financing capacity during the equity financing process, aiming to provide valuable insights for the successful implementation of equity financing. The study involved the distribution of a total of 400 questionnaires to Chinese venture capital institutions and SMEs of innovative drug R&D, followed by statistical analysis of the questionnaire data results. In light of the challenges faced by these enterprises during the equity financing process, such as inadequate attention to financing business plans, neglect of financing roadshows, insufficient financing expertise, reliance on single financing approaches or channels, lack of meticulous capital partner selection and enterprises raise capital prematurely, this study proposes several countermeasures. These include prioritizing the financing business plan, emphasizing the importance of the financing roadshows, adopting a diversified financing approach, and objectively determining the optimal entry point for the financing stage. Venture capital can effectively address the financing bottleneck faced by small and medium-sized innovative biomedical enterprises, thereby serving as the optimal financing channel. Not only that, but also can effectively address the bottleneck issues associated with equity financing for small and medium-sized innovative biomedical enterprises and play a pivotal role in the field of innovative drug research and development (R&D). By fostering the development of more efficient novel drugs, it can significantly contribute to the robust growth of China's biomedical industry.

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This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the morphology, mechanical properties, erosion resistance, and machine learning modeling of Si 3 N 4 +TiC + VC and CrNi based ceramic coatings deposited via plasma spraying. The cross-sectional morphology analysis revealed good mechanical interlocking between the coatings and the substrate, with pores predominantly observed in the Si 3 N 4 +TiC + VC coating. The coating thicknesses were measured as follows: 260 μm for Si 3 N 4 +TiC + VC, 243 μm for Si 3 N 4 +TiC + VC blended with CrNi, and 232 μm for pure CrNi coating. Mechanical characterization showed that microhardness values ranged from 1933 HV for Si 3 N 4 +TiC + VC coating to 499 HV for pure CrNi coatings. Slurry erosion tests demonstrated that pure Si 3 N 4 +TiC + VC coating exhibited superior erosion resistance at 90° impingement angle compared to other coatings. Additionally, a rigorous evaluation of over 20 machine learning regression models revealed that Gaussian Process Regressors and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with a layer size of 20, displayed satisfactory performance in modeling mass loss prediction. The erosion mechanisms observed in the coatings provided valuable insights into their response to slurry erosion, highlighting the influence of coating composition and impingement angles. The findings underscore the potential of Si 3 N 4 +TiC + VC ceramic coatings to enhance the erosion resistance of stainless steel, offering promising applications in various industries. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of chitosan-selenium nanoparticles (CS-SeNPs) through in situ reduction of selenite-Vc using chitosan (CS) as a template were extensively investigated. However it was important to consider the potential influence of Vc on the stable phase of freshly prepared CS-SeNPs, and not just its role in reducing selenite. In this study, we prepared CS(I)-SeNPs and CS(h)-SeNPs utilizing chitosan with varying molecular weights (3 kDa and 200 kDa) as templates, respectively. Firstly, we compared and characterized the differences in microscopic morphology and chemical structure between these two types of nanoparticles, as well as to investigate changes in particle size, ζ-potential, microscopic morphology, and elemental composition of the CS-SeNPs over time following removal of Vc treatment. Furthermore, we analyzed transformation of selenium's crystalline structure and the chemical structure of CS-SeNPs during stable phase of freshly prepared CS-SeNPs by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The results demonstrated that when Vc was removed on the first day of stable phase, the particle sizes of both CS-SeNPs increased initially but remained stable thereafter. Additionally, ζ-potential gradually decreased over time; however after 14 days. the removement of Vc caused aggregation of CS(I)-SeNPs, while had less impact on CS(h)-SeNPs. Moreover, our findings indicated that Vc could influence both the chemical structure within the system by affecting O-H and N-H hydrogen bonding interactions among sugar chain molecules during stable phase of CS-SeNPs as well as selenium's crystalline structure. This study presents novel insights into the stable phase of freshly prepared nanoparticles from Vc or other reducing small molecules when employed in an in-situ approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual cryptography (VC) is a model that permits visual data in an encrypted manner in such a way that decrypted data occurs in the form of visual image. A scheme is modeled for secret sharing considering VC. It divides secret image into various shares for revealing secret image. Here, major aim is to design XOR-based VC (XVC) with a secret sharing scheme for VC. The image is splitted into different shares based on an XVC with newly developed adjustable pixel expansion. Here, an optimal weight factor is generated using the proposed optimization algorithm, named invasive snake optimizer (ISO). The ISO is obtained by the integration of Invasive weed optimization (IWO) and snake optimizer (SO) considering encryption power and decryption power. Then, decryption is performed to retrieve the output image. The ISO-XVC provided high efficiency with the best decryption power of 0.799, encryption power of 8.898, and PSNR of 53.674 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to clarify the oxidative damage in human skin fibroblasts (HSF) treated with trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) and to elucidate its pro-aging effect in skin cells in terms of antioxidant indicators, levels of inflammatory cytokines, levels of collagen and matrix metalloproteinases, and mRNA expression of related genes. The results showed that TMAO treatment significantly increased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and decreased the content of reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in HSF cells (P < 0.05). TMAO treatment was found to significantly elevate the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), and decrease the mRNA transcript levels of collagen synthesis-related genes and the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot analysis showed that the protein expression level of phosphorylated p65 (p-p65) significantly increased (P < 0.05). Vitamin C (VC) was able to protect against TMAO-induced oxidative stress in HSF cells, and reduce inflammation and collagen loss. These results indicated that TMAO can produce oxidative stress in HSF cells, which may activate the signaling pathway of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), promote NF-κB phosphorylation in HSF cells, induce inflammatory responses, reduce collagen synthesis, and accelerate collagen degradation, thus possibly promoting skin cell aging.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a clinical diagnosis used to define a neurodegenerative process that involves progressive loss of voluntary muscle function and leads to death within 2-5 years after diagnosis, in most cases because of respiratory function failure. Respiratory vital capacity (VC) measurements are reproducible and strong predictors of survival. To understand the role of the innate immune response in progressive VC loss we evaluated ALS clinical trial and biomarker results from a 6-month phase 2 study of NP001, a regulator of innate immune function. All ALS baseline values were similar between treated and controls except for those > 65 years old who were excluded from analysis. Treated patients with plasma CRP ≥ 1.13 mg/L (high CRP) showed a 64% slower rate of VC decline compared with placebo and those with plasma CRP < 1.13 mg/L (low CRP) who showed no response. High CRP patients showed no age associated loss of VC whereas low CRP patients showed an age dependent loss of VC function. Plasma levels of serum amyloid A (SAA) were similarly elevated in high CRP patients consistent with ongoing innate immune activation. Plasma TGFB1 in high CRP treated patients was 95% higher than placebo at 6-months, confirming the activation and release of this anti-inflammatory factor by the innate immune alpha 2 macroglobulin (A2M) system. This report is the first to link a biomarker confirmed regulation of the innate immune system with a therapeutic approach for controlling VC loss in ALS patients.

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Ni-based VC and TiVC 2 composite coatings were prepared on the surface of worn brake discs by laser direct deposition, and the influence mechanism of trace TiC addition on the microstructure and performance of the coating was investigated. The microstructure of the coatings was analyzed by XRD, SEM, EDS, and TEM, which revealed the evolution mechanism of the microstructure during the laser deposition process. The friction wear performance was tested on friction wear equipment. The results showed that VC 0.88 was formed by the in-situ reaction of C and V under the action of the laser, which presents dendritic morphology. After the addition of TiC particles, TiVC 2 was further synthesized along the TiC particles in addition to dispersed VC 0.88 in the coating. It can be seen that the addition of trace TiC particles inhibited the formation of VC 0.88 dendrites and enhanced the plastic toughness of the coating. HRTEM calibration proved the existence of TiVC 2 and Ni, and there was no obvious orientation relationship between the interface. The friction coefficients of Ni-based VC and Ni-based TiVC 2 coatings with Al 2 O 3 balls were 0.59 and 0.51 at room temperature, respectively. After 1.5 h of high-temperature wear at 300 °C and 600 °C, the distribution of wear marks shows a groove and high-temperature fatigue appearance. The TiC-doped coating has better wear properties than the base material and the original coating is expected to meet the requirements for brake discs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C (VC) can be used to increase disease resistance in practice in intensive aquaculture. But it is still unconfirmed whether VC could alleviate inflammation and what dosage is suitable. This study investigated the effects of dietary VC on the immunity and enteritis of juvenile blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. The fish were fed with VC levels ranging from 25.35 to 2231.98 mg/kg for 60 days. After that, fish fed with 150.65 mg/kg, 573.79 mg/kg, and 2231.98 mg/kg VC were challenged with A. hydrophila orally to simulate enteritis. The results showed that 285.39 and 573.79 mg/kg dietary VC significant improved growth performance and feed utilization. Dietary VC (573.79 and 1133.79 mg/kg) significantly enhanced the serum immune parameters, antioxidant enzymes' activities, and relative gene expressions of ikbα and cat in the liver in the 60-day feeding trail. The survival rate was significantly higher in 573.79 mg/kg dietary VC group than the other two treatments. Cytokines were activated after the bacteria challenge. Dietary 573.79 mg/kg VC caused significantly higher TNF-α level at 12 hpi and maintained a high level of IL-8 at 48 to 72 h compared to other treatments. In conclusion, more than 500 mg/kg VC was needed to maintain the health of blunt snout bream juveniles. Suitable VC would activate cytokines to increase disease resistance along with antioxidant enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated the compositional changes of Rosa roxburghii Tratt. fruit vinegar during fermentation. By using Rosa roxburghii Tratt. as raw material and using the whole liquid fermentation technique, fruit vinegar was prepared by fermenting alcoholic and acetic acids simultaneously. The physicochemical properties of the fermentation process were dynamically monitored. Headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and the odor activity value (OAV) were utilized to analyze volatile flavor components. As fermentation proceeded, soluble solids, pH, total sugars, and reduced sugars decreased, while total acid and VC contents increased. From the original juice to the end of acetic acid fermentation, the total acid and VC contents ranged from 1.86 g/100 mL and 956.82 mg/100 mL to 6.79 g/100 mL and 1275.88 mg/100 mL. Oxalic acid, quinic acid, pyruvic acid, ascorbic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, and fumaric acid showed varying degrees of increasing (P

High-carbon hardline steels are primarily used for the manufacture of tire beads for both automobiles and aircraft, and vanadium (V) microalloying is an important means of adjusting the microstructure of high-carbon hardline steels. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the microstructure and precipitation phases of continuous cooled high-carbon steels were characterized, and the vanadium content, carbon diffusion coefficient, and critical precipitation temperature were calculated. The results showed that as the V content increased to 0.06 wt.%, the interlamellar spacing (ILS) of the pearlite in the experimental steel decreased to 0.110 μm, and the carbon diffusion coefficient in the experimental steel decreased to 0.98 × 10−3 cm2·s−1. The pearlite content in the experimental steel with 0.02 wt.% V reached its maximum at a cooling rate of 5 °C·s−1, and a small amount of bainite was observed in the experimental steel at a cooling rate of 10 °C·s−1. The precipitated phase was VC with a diameter of ~24.73 nm, and the misfit between ferrite and VC was 5.02%, forming a semi-coherent interface between the two. Atoms gradually adjust their positions to allow the growth of VC along the ferrite direction. As the V content increased to 0.06 wt.%, the precipitation-temperature-time curve (PTT) shifted to the left, and the critical nucleation temperature for homogeneous nucleation, grain boundary nucleation, and dislocation line nucleation increased from 570.6, 676.9, and 692.4 °C to 634.6, 748.5, and 755.5 °C, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Storage & Process is the property of Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Four types of multiphase Fe–V alloys were examined, comprising ferrite, pearlite, and bainite microstructures. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization were employed to study the effect of microstructure on electrochemical properties of the alloys in 3.5% NaCl solution. The cathode reaction was found to be the main step controlling the corrosion dissolution process. The lowest corrosion current density (2.104 μA/cm2) for the Fe–V alloy with bainite indicated that it had outstanding corrosion resistance. Although an increase in pearlite content had a negative effect on corrosion resistance of the alloy, refinement of the lamellar spacing had the opposite effect. Surface corrosion morphologies were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that fine cementite uniformly distributed in the bainite promoted slight uniform dissolution of ferrite. Corrosion and dissolution that occurred at the junctions of the pearlite colonies with different directions was more severe. The increase of content of V effectively improved the corrosion resistance of Fe–V alloy. Compared with the matrix, the VC precipitated phase was cathodically protected in the electrochemical corrosion process by virtue of its positive corrosion potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal carbides of group 5 (G5TMC=VC, NbC and TaC) with similar crystallite sizes were prepared by a sol-gel route. The catalysts were characterized and studied in the methanol steam reforming (MSR) reaction in the temperature range of 573–723 K at atmospheric pressure and using a stoichiometric CH 3 OH/H 2 O = 1/1 mole ratio mixture. Under the MSR reaction conditions used, the route of methanol transformation depends on the G5TMC used as catalyst. The catalytic behaviour of VC differs from that of NbC and TaC, which in turn show a similar behaviour. Over VC, methanol is mainly converted to a mixture of H 2 +CH 4 , whereas over NbC and TaC the major product obtained is HCHO, formed from the dehydrogenation of methanol. • Group 5 transition metal carbides as catalysts in the methanol steam reforming. • Methanol steam reforming over VC, NbC and TaC polycrystalline catalysts. • H 2 +CH 4 mixtures are obtained under MSR over VC catalyst. • HCHO is obtained under MSR over NbC and TaC catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of Ni content on the microstructure and properties of an ultra- fine grained (UFG) Fe-based layer clad onto a Q235 steel with a fibre laser was examined. The results revealed that within the range of 0 to 6 wt.% Ni, each Fe-based UFG laser clad layer consisted of α-Fe, γ and in situ synthesized VC. As the Ni content increased so the grain size of the Fe-based UFG laser clad layer matrix and the amount of retained austenite also increased. The microhardness of the Fe-based UFG laser clad layers initially decreased and then increased with the addition of Ni. The corrosion resistance of the Fe-based UFG laser clad layers exhibited an increasing trend followed by a decreasing trend. Notably, when the Ni content ranged from 4.5 to 5.2%, the Fe-based UFG laser clad layer demonstrated excellent comprehensive performance, including outstanding corrosion resistance and microhardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the corporate governance challenges confronted by small and mediumsized innovative biomedical enterprises in the context of equity financing. Its objective is to provide valuable recommendations for the successful implementation of such financing. In order to address issues such as imperfect equity structure, inadequate financial audit systems, and low stability of the core team during equity financing, a range of improvement measures are proposed. These measures comprise optimizing internal management mechanisms, establishing an efficient R&D organizational structure, implementing practical incentive mechanisms for R&D enterprises focused on benefits, and enabling technical experts to actively engage in company ownership structures. Equity financing plays a vital role in resolving the difficulties faced by small and medium-sized innovative biomedical enterprises, particularly in fostering the development of innovative pharmaceutical products within the biomedical R&D field. Thus, it has a positive impact on effectively advancing China’s biomedical industry.”

Present study investigated the difference between the fruit weight and the quality of 'Hongyang' kiwifruit. The 'Hongyang' kiwiruit from 2 orchards collected from Pujiang and Jintang County of Sichuan Provence were classified according to the weight into five grading (130 g). The soluble solid content, titratable acid content, solid acid ratio, hue angle value, sweet and sour taste, VC content of different grades of fruits were analyzed and compared, and partial least squares-discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) was employed to screen the main differential substances in fruits of different weight grading. The results showed that at the same maturity, the fruit size of 'Hongyang' kiwifruit had an impact on the sweet substances such as sugar (SUC) and SSC, sour substances quinic acid (QA) and VC, but had no significant impact on the color, TA, RTT, etc. The content of SUC and SSC increased with the increase of fruit weight, and the characteristic of fruit with a fruit weight greater than 110 g was sweet. While the content of VC and QA decreased with the increase of fruit weight, and when the fruit weight more than 90 g, the content of VC decreased significantly. Although the content of QA decreased with the increase of fruit weight, it had no significant effect on fruit flavor. According to the above results, sweet and sour substances were the main factors affecting the quality of fruits of different weight grading, and the sweet and sour flavor of fruits with larger weight (> 90 g) was better, but the VC content was lower. The research results provide a scientific basis for the revision of fruit grading standards, production management and rational consumption.

The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effect of VC and bacterial enzyme complex combined with glucose on serum biochemical indexes, immune and antioxidant function of cows with antibiotic poisoning. Twenty cows with antibiotic poisoning, weighing about (250.00±10.23) kg were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group, with five replicates in each group and two cows in each replicate. The cows in the control group received an intravenous injection of glucose and VC, and the cows in the experimental group received an oral administration of glucose and bacterial enzyme complex for seven days. The results showed that compared with the control group, on the 8th day, the leukocytes, neutrophils, erythrocytes and hemoglobin of cows in the experimental group were significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the platelets were significantly increased ( P<0.05). The activitiy of ALT and CK, and the concentrations of TBIL, Na, P and BUN in serum significantly decreased ( P<0.05), while the concentrations of ALB and Ca significantly increased ( P<0.05). The concentrations of IgM, IgG, IL-6, IFN-γ, SOD activity and T-AOC in the serum of the cows in the experimental group significantly increased ( P<0.05), while the concentrations of MDA significantly decreased ( P<0.05). On the 8th day of the experiment, there were no significant differences in blood routine, serum biochemistry, antioxidant indexes and immune between the experimental group and healthy cows ( P>0.05). The study indicates that glucose and bacteriase complex treatment can effectively improve the blood routine, serum biochemical, immunity and antioxidant function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we correct the learning risk lower bound in the non-realizable case provided by Anthony and Bartlett in 1999. Our contribution is mainly technical as we follow closely the proof of Anthony and Bartlett by correcting first the lemma they use and adapting then the lower bound proof itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Vitamin C (VC) can be used to increase disease resistance in practice in intensive aquaculture. But it is still unconfirmed whether VC could alleviate inflammation and what dosage is suitable. This study investigated the effects of dietary VC on the immunity and enteritis of juvenile blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. The fish were fed with VC levels ranging from 25.35 to 2231.98 mg/kg for 60 days. After that, fish fed with 150.65 mg/kg, 573.79 mg/kg, and 2231.98 mg/kg VC were challenged with A. hydrophila orally to simulate enteritis. The results showed that 285.39 and 573.79 mg/kg dietary VC significant improved growth performance and feed utilization. Dietary VC (573.79 and 1133.79 mg/kg) significantly enhanced the serum immune parameters, antioxidant enzymes’ activities, and relative gene expressions of ikbα and cat in the liver in the 60-day feeding trail. The survival rate was significantly higher in 573.79 mg/kg dietary VC group than the other two treatments. Cytokines were activated after the bacteria challenge. Dietary 573.79 mg/kg VC caused significantly higher TNF-α level at 12 hpi and maintained a high level of IL-8 at 48 to 72 h compared to other treatments. In conclusion, more than 500 mg/kg VC was needed to maintain the health of blunt snout bream juveniles. Suitable VC would activate cytokines to increase disease resistance along with antioxidant enzymes.

Copyright of Detergent & Cosmetics is the property of Detergent & Cosmetics Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

V-bearing molten iron was obtained by adding Na2CO3 in the smelting process of vanadium titanomagnetite at low temperature. Two forms of V-rich carbides ((Fe,V)3C, VC) were detected in the V-bearing pig iron products. Once the smelting temperature was above 1300 °C, most of the V in the raw ore was reduced into molten iron. Owning to the high content of V, the unsteady (Fe,V)3C solid solution decomposed along with the precipitation of graphite and VC during the solidification process. The presence of VC cluster and VC precursor in (Fe,V)3C was detected by transmission electron microscopy, which confirmed the possibility of this transition process at the atomic perspective. The transformation dramatically affected the compositions and properties of V-bearing pig iron and had important guiding significance for the actual production process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors of this article set a goal to identify the most relevant obstacles for venture capital development in Russia. In order to achieve this goal, statistical analysis was carried out as well as valuation of different quantitative and qualitative information, including primary sources (interviews with venture industry experts) was conducted. Russian and foreign literature was exploited during this research. The analysis of the Russian venture capital development dynamics was carried out, as well as the major regulatory aspects of the industry were examined. Based on the results of the research, certain recommendations were provided, which, according to the authors, are capable of supporting venture investments in the long term and accelerating the volume growth of capital raising by domestic startups.

Verrucous carcinoma (VC) is a locally invasive uncommon histopathological variant of oral squamous cell cancer. There is paucity of literature regarding control rates in these cases. We intend to report the outcomes in terms of administered treatment and control rates. 28 patients of oral cavity verrucous carcinomas treated at our institute from March 2014 to December 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic profile, histopathological features and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS for Mac (version 23.0). Median age was 54 years (range 31–75) with M:F ratio of 25:3. Buccal mucosa was the most common site. All patients underwent surgical resection except one. Of these, 24 had neck dissection; 12 had supra-omohyoid neck dissection, eleven had modified neck dissection and one patient underwent radical neck dissection. Three patients had their histology upgraded to squamous cell carcinomas in the post-operative histopathology. The post-operative staging was as follows: 21% stage I and 35% stage II. One patient opted for non-surgical approach and received radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Median follow up was 12 months (range 6–36). Two patients had local failures and one had a regional failure. No distant metastasis was found. There was one death. 14-Months survival rate was 92%. Estimated 18 month loco-regional control rate was 92%. Curative surgical resection remains the cornerstone for VC of oral cavity. Any change of histopathology post-operatively to squamous cell carcinoma is a poor prognostic sign and needs appropriate adjuvant treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the in-situ VC reinforced Fe-based composite cladding was experimentally fabricated on 45 steel surface by laser cladding using the mixture of FeV 50 and B 4 C with different contents (10–30 wt%). The formation mechanism of composite cladding and effect of B 4 C content on its wear resistance were investigated through first-principles calculations. The experimental results show that the volume fraction of in-situ formed VC particles increases continuously with increasing B 4 C content. The microhardness of composite cladding increases significantly, and it reaches to 1653.7 HV 0.5 when the B 4 C content is 30 wt%. Meanwhile, the friction coefficient of composite cladding decreases with increasing B 4 C content, and the wear mode gradually changes from adhesive wear to abrasive wear, indicating the enhanced wear resistance of composite cladding. The first-principles calculations results show that the in-situ formed VC and Fe 2 B are both hard and brittle phases, and the VC and Fe 2 B can exist stably in the composite cladding. The interface between VC and Fe matrix is well bonded, and the interfacial separation work is calculated as 5.516 J/m2, which mainly attributes to the bonding characteristics of mixed ion-covalent bonding interactions between Fe and C atoms located at interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C (VC, l-ascorbic acid) is an essential nutrient that plays a key role in metabolism and functions as a potent antioxidant in regulating the S-nitrosylation and denitrosylation of target proteins. The precise function of VC deprivation in glucose homeostasis is still unknown. In the absence of L-gulono-1,4-lactone oxidoreductase, an essential enzyme for the last step of VC synthesis, VC deprivation resulted in persistent hypoglycemia and subsequent impairment of cognitive functions in female but not male mouse pups. The cognitive disorders caused by VC deprivation were largely reversed when these female pups were given glucose. VC deprivation-induced S-nitrosylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) at Cys14, which activated GSK3β and inactivated glycogen synthase to decrease glycogen synthesis and storage under the feeding condition, while VC deprivation inactivated glycogen phosphorylase to decrease glycogenolysis under the fasting condition, ultimately leading to hypoglycemia and cognitive disorders. Treatment with Nω-Nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), a specific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, on the other hand, effectively prevented S-nitrosylation and activation of GSK3β in female pups in response to the VC deprivation and reversed hypoglycemia and cognitive disorders. Overall, this research identifies S-nitrosylation of GSK3β and subsequent GSK3β activation as a previously unknown mechanism controlling glucose homeostasis in female pups in response to VC deprivation, implying that VC supplementation in the prevention of hypoglycemia and cognitive disorders should be considered in the certain groups of people, particularly young females.

Visual Cryptography (VC) was developed to encrypt images into numerous shares and decrypt them by grouping the shares without the need for expensive traditional cryptosystems. The Secure Signific VC (SSVC) scheme was intended to use a Contrast Sensitive Function (CSF) for deciding on Cover Image (CI) blocks to be embedded with the secret shares. However, this scheme was prone to collusion attacks and distortions in the images. To solve this, randomness and collusion avoidance are essential for SSVC to be valuable. Hence, this article proposes a new Robust Collusion Avoidance-based SSVC (RCA-SSVC) scheme to create the collusion-resistant Secret Image (SI) shares effectively and avoid the risk of collusion. This scheme is designed in a manner such that each share is dependent on every other image or at least most of the images. This characteristic ensures that data is distributed uniformly across users and protects against collusion threats. During the share creation stage, a Boolean XOR function and a shift-bit algorithm are introduced to create multiple shares from SIs. This algorithm creates the shares only if the prior shares had been previously created. These created shares are embedded with the CI blocks chosen by CSF and sent to the individuals via a transfer channel. Further, the actual SI is retrieved from the received shares during the restoration stage. Finally, the results of the experiments show that the RCA-SSVC achieves an average Mean Square Error (MSE) of 0, mean Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) of 56.48dB, average Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.736, mean Universal Image Quality Index (UIQI) of 0.9478, mean Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) of 0.9122 and 0.9sec time complexity compared to the traditional VC schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cu-VC-Al 2 O 3 -graphite composites were prepared with copper-coated graphite and V 2 AlC. • A VC interface transition layer was formed between the copper matrix and graphite. • The microstructure of the composites was analyzed by XRD, SEM and EDS. Cu-graphite composites play an important role as friction materials used in many fields. However, weak bonding of copper with graphite and low strength of copper are significant limitations. In this study, our focus on fabricating high-density Cu-VC-Al 2 O 3 -graphite composites by using V 2 AlC as a modifier for the Cu-graphite systems. The microstructure and interface properties of the composites were thoroughly examined by SEM, EDS, and XRD techniques. The results indicate the in-situ synthesis of VC and Al 2 O 3 , which exhibit good compatibility with the copper matrix in the composites. Furthermore, the formation of a VC layer facilitates enhanced interfacial bonding between the copper matrix and graphite. In addition, the resulting composite materials show desirable density and hardness, boasting a relative density of 94.5 % and a hardness of 80.6 HV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is unstable and easily oxidized, which limits its applications. Ascorbic acid (Vc) is a natural antioxidant. Objective The effects of EGCG combined with Vc and glycerol on stability and uric acid-lowering activity of EGCG were examined. Materials and methods EGCG (aqueous solution), EGCG + Vc (aqueous solution), EGCG (glycerol solution) and EGCG + Vc (glycerol solution) were prepared and incubated under different conditions in vitro. The recovery rate of EGCG was calculated by HPLC. Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, allopurinol (5 mg/kg), EGCG (10 mg/kg), EGCG + Vc (both 10 mg/kg), EGCG (10 mg/kg) + glycerol (60%), and EGCG (10 mg/kg) + Vc (10 mg/kg) + glycerol (60%) (n = 6). Allopurinol was injected intraperitoneally to mice, others were administered intragastrically to (2 cases) mice. All mice were continuously administrated for 7 days, once a day. Results EGCG recovery rates of EGCG group and EGCG + Vc + glycerol group respectively reached to 32.34 ± 1.86% and 98.90 ± 0.64% when they were incubated for 4 h at 80 °C. EGCG recovery rates reached to 91.82 ± 5.13% (incubated for 6 h at pH 8) and 88.85 ± 2.63% (incubated for 4 h in simulated intestinal fluid) when EGCG incubated with Vc and glycerol. Compared with the model group, UA values of EGCG + Vc + glycerol group reduced by 43.49% while EGCG group reduced by 25.63%. The activities of xanthine oxidase (XOD, 31.41 U/gprot) and adenosine deaminase (ADA, 10.05 U/mgprot), and the mRNA expression levels of glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9, 1.03) and urate transporter 1 (URAT1, 0.44) in EGCG + Vc + glycerol group were notably lower than those of EGCG group (38.12 U/gprot, 13.16 U/mgprot, 1.54, and 0.55). The mRNA expression levels of ATP-binding cassette superfamily G member 2 (ABCG2, 1.39) and organic anion transport 1/2 (OAT1/2, 2.34, 2.53) in EGCG + Vc + glycerol group were notably higher than those of EGCG group (0.57, 1.13, and 1.16). Discussion and conclusions Our findings suggest that when EGCG used in combination with Vc and glycerol could effectively increase its biology activities and can be generalized to the broader pharmacological studies. This sheds light on the development and application of EGCG in the fields of food and medicine.

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When preparing tungsten-cobalt gradient alloy under nitriding conditions, TiC becomes a very important additive because it can effectively promote the formation of gradient structure. However, doping TiC often causes a large number of defects such as holes, cracks, and impurity segregation in the tungsten-cobalt cemented carbide matrix. The paper is mainly studied the improvement of microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-containing cemented carbide by doping appropriate amount of NbC or VC. The results show that: doping with NbC or VC can refine the grains of the hard phase, effectively control the microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy, significantly improve its compactness, and increase the hardness and transverse fracture strength of the alloy. However, the fracture toughness is reduced. When the doping amount is less than 0.6% (mass fraction), VC effects on improving the hardness and transverse fracture strength more obviously than NbC; when the doping amount is equal to 0.6% (mass fraction), the difference between VC and NbC in improving the transverse rupture strength is not significant. Comparing the two additive contents studied in this paper, when the VC content is 0.6% (mass fraction), the performance of cemented carbide is better, with a hardness of 1836 HV30kgf, a fracture toughness of 8.85 MPa·m1/2, and a transverse fracture strength of 1888 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information network among investors plays a vital role in identifying and nurturing companies with potential growth. Hence, it is crucial to investigate and understand the connections among investors. One of the clues for capturing these connections among investors is syndication. However, there has not been enough research on the formation process of syndicates in Japan. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to clarify the structural characteristics of investor networks through syndication, i.e., changes over time in the “size,” “density,” and “centrality” of investor networks, using investment statement data from 2000 to 2019. The results suggest that the domestic investor network is formed by one massive group with little factionalism. In particular, it was revealed that the network was formed based on SMBC Venture Capital, Mizuho Capital, and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital. However, since this investor network is sparse, it can be considered that positioning within the network, or betweenness centrality, is more important than the number of relationships established with investors. The analysis revealed that the information circulating on the investor network has most likely been mediated mainly by Mizuho Capital and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a clinical diagnosis used to define a neurodegenerative process that involves progressive loss of voluntary muscle function and leads to death within 2–5 years after diagnosis, in most cases because of respiratory function failure. Respiratory vital capacity (VC) measurements are reproducible and strong predictors of survival. To understand the role of the innate immune response in progressive VC loss we evaluated ALS clinical trial and biomarker results from a 6-month phase 2 study of NP001, a regulator of innate immune function. All ALS baseline values were similar between treated and controls except for those > 65 years old who were excluded from analysis. Treated patients with plasma CRP ≥ 1.13 mg/L (high CRP) showed a 64% slower rate of VC decline compared with placebo and those with plasma CRP < 1.13 mg/L (low CRP) who showed no response. High CRP patients showed no age associated loss of VC whereas low CRP patients showed an age dependent loss of VC function. Plasma levels of serum amyloid A (SAA) were similarly elevated in high CRP patients consistent with ongoing innate immune activation. Plasma TGFB1 in high CRP treated patients was 95% higher than placebo at 6-months, confirming the activation and release of this anti-inflammatory factor by the innate immune alpha 2 macroglobulin (A2M) system. This report is the first to link a biomarker confirmed regulation of the innate immune system with a therapeutic approach for controlling VC loss in ALS patients.

V-bearing molten iron was obtained by adding Na2CO3 in the smelting process of vanadium titanomagnetite at low temperature. Two forms of V-rich carbides ((Fe,V)3C, VC) were detected in the V-bearing pig iron products. Once the smelting temperature was above 1300 °C, most of the V in the raw ore was reduced into molten iron. Owning to the high content of V, the unsteady (Fe,V)3C solid solution decomposed along with the precipitation of graphite and VC during the solidification process. The presence of VC cluster and VC precursor in (Fe,V)3C was detected by transmission electron microscopy, which confirmed the possibility of this transition process at the atomic perspective. The transformation dramatically affected the compositions and properties of V-bearing pig iron and had important guiding significance for the actual production process.